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Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont film6s en commenpant par la premiAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la derniAre page qui comporte une telle emprefnte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols -h»> signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmis A des taux de reduction diffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est film* A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 il 12 3 4 5 6 SPSECHE8 or MR. DsCOSlVLOS ONi THE ESQUIMALT GRAVING DOCK AND CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY, AND THE ALASKA BOUNDARY LINE. -:o:- HANSARD RSFOBT (Gorrected.) HOUSE OP COMMONS. Thursday, 2lat Feb., 1878. OANADUN PAOIFIO RAILWAY. HOTIOS FOR OORRBSPONDSXOI. Mr; DeCOSMOS moved for a copy lof all correspondence in 1877 and 1878, land not now before Parliament, Ibotween the Imperial, Dominion, and JBritish Colambia Governments respect- ling ' the Canada Pacific Bailway ; and lalso a copy of all correspondence in |1877 and 1878 between the said Gov- srnmonts respecting the Graving-dock it Et*quimalt. He said that this reso- lution might have been sepa- rated into two parts, but he Icnew of no good or sufficient rea- son why the Government should make my objection to it as it was drawn. The House wonld recollect that last i'ear, notwithstanding the fact that the iJovernor-General had visited British Columbia, and notwithstanding the fact that despatches had passed between the Government of British Columbia and the Imperial Government — and he presumed that despatches had passed from this Government to the Imperial Government — they had had no copy whatever of the despatches which had passed with regai'd to the position of the Dominion Government respecting the Canadian Pacific Eailway ; that was, so far as the settlement of the dif- ficulty relative to British Columbia was concerned. They had had a despatch, however, he believed, from the Impe- rial Government, which had been com- municated to the House, and the hon. the Premier had last Session stated that the Government were in possession of no despatches, leaving the House to infer that His Excellency the Governor- General had taken the business of . ettl- ing the British Columbia difficulty apparently out of the handn of his re- sponsible advisers, and had done as he tnought proper in the matter. In other words, they were to assume that the despatch of His Excellency the Govor- tior-(Teneral last year was Bent either with or without the consent of his Min- isters. Now, there was a point in that connection that might be discussed. It was not his wish, however, to deal with it at the present moment. All he asked for under the fii'st head was that all the despatches between the Imperial, Dominion and Provincial (Bri- tish Columbia) Governments should bo at a ver^ early, day placed before the House, m order that the House might intelligently discuss the question of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The next point would occupy a littl*^ more of the time of the House, and, in oixler that he might place it intelligently before the House, he craved its indulgence. He asked, in this regard, for a copy of all the correspondence that had taken place, in 1871 and 1878 between the said Governments, respecting the Graving-dock at Esquimalt. Some correspondence on this sub- ject could be found in the Ses- sional Papers of this House, and some in the Sessional Papers of the Province of British Columbia. He would stato the case briefly, from the commencement. The Gov- ernment of the Dominion, led by the right hon. gentleman who now led the Opposition, agreed with British Colum- bia to aid it in the construction of this dock. The hon. gentleman who led the Government of to^ay, also confirmed that agreement. The aid was to be riven as a bonus by both Governments. The members of the late Government had agreed that it was to be a bonus ; and the hon. the leader of the present Government said he would strictly carry out what the late Govornmont bad agreed to perform ; but, in that respect ho (Mr. Mackenzie) ha^i not done so. As he (Mr. DeCosmos) under- stood it, and as the Province of British Columbia understood it, the hon. the leader of the present Govemmont had violated a plain and distinct l)argain. He made this brief statement at p-0!sent with the view of preparing the House for what he intended to lay before it, and then hon. members would be able to see how this question stood. The first point to which he would draw the attention of the House was that, in the 1873 Session of the Legis- lature of British Columbia, he moved the following resolutions:— "SMolved—1[!\iat Article I'i of the Terms o{ Union between this Province and the Dominion of Canada provides for the con- struction of a first-class Graving Dock, in the following words : ' The Dominion Govern- ment shaP guarantee the interest for ten years, from the date of the completion of the works, at the rate of five per centum per annum of such sum, not exceeding £100,000 sterling, as may be required for the con- struction of a nrst-class Graving Dock at Esquimau.' "That the Terms above specified were adopted in the full belief that the proposed guarantee would be sufficient to secure the construction oi the dock by private enter- prise. "That although tenders have been publicly invited in England, Canada, and the United States, yet none have been received since the close of last Session of the Legis- lature. " That only one tender had been received previous to th6 close of last Session, and that the Legislature rofused to accept. "That, from tnistworli.y information, it is certain that the guarantee for the construc- tion of the Gravmg Doclt is not sufficient to induce private enterprise to engage in the undertaKing. *' That it is highly desirable, from a naval and mercantile point of view, that the Graving Dock should be constructed without delay. "That Article 9 of the Terms of Union states — 'That the infiuence^i the Dom- inion Government will be used to secure the continued maintenance of the naval station at Esquimau.' "That the construction of the dock would be a powiTful inducement to Her Majesty's Govern;iiont to continue Esquimalt as a naval station ; and that the continuance of Her Majesty's ships in the waters of Britinh Columbia would contribute most materially to preserve peace between the wliite popula- tion and Indiana, and by that means save to the Dominion Government large sums that might otherwise be expended in sup- pressing Indian outbreaks. "That the Graving Dock partakes more of a National and Federal than of a Provincial character. Tiii'< is especially the case in view of tile necessity of a first-class dock for the repair of Her Majesty's ships in the North Pauilic, and also i.. view of the early construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and the consequent devel- opment of an extensive trade carried on in steamships and sailing vessels of the largest class, between China, Japan and Australasia on the one side, and British Columbia on the other. " That, as the true intent and spirit of Sec- tion 12 of the Terms of Union was to secure beyond a doubt the construction of the dock, an't'as the guarantee in Section 12 is insuffi- cient, this House respectfully recommends Hia Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor to secure its construction without delay, on one of th» following conditions •—• I 8 ■ the Terms of ce and the for the con- g Dock, in the nion Govern- erest for ten ipletion of the centum per ling £100,000 for the con- ving Dock at pecified were the proposed to secure the private enter- 3 been publicly a, and the been received of the Legis- • been received t Session, and accept. formation,, it is the construc- )t sufficient to engage in the !, from a naval iew, that the ructed without erms of Union «ot the Dom- d to secure the naval station the dock would Her Majesty's Isquimalt as a continuance of ,ters of Britich lost materially ! white popula- , means save to t laree sums pended in sup- lartakes more of oi a Provincial ly the esse in first-class dock isly's ships in so L. view of the Oauadian nsequent devel- de carried on in Is of the largest and Australasia Columbia on the ind spirit of See- on was to secure tion of the dock, ion 12 is insuftl- illy recommends ant-Qovernor to )ut delay, on one "1. To increase the guarantee in £100,000 sterling from five per centum per annum for ten years, to £120,000 sterling at 7^ per cen- tum per annum for twenty-five years. *• 2. In lieu of the present or proposed in- creased guarantee, the Dominion Govern- ment to construct tlie dock. "3. The Dominion Government to grant to this Province such sum of money in cash, in lieu of the guarantee in Section 12 of the Terms of Union, as may enablethe Provincial Government to undertake the construction of the dock." These resolutions were really the basis of subsequent negotiations with the late and the present Government respecting pecuniary aid for the dock, and they were based on Section 12 of the Terms of Union. Before he pro- ceeded to quote other authorities on the subject, ho might state that the present Government refused to give the $250,000 as a bonus to the Province, but had offered to charge it as a debt against the Province. The next point was that there never were any communications with the Dominion Government asking it to loan money for the construction of the dock ; but, in every case, after it was found that the guarantee of interest to private enter- prise was insufficient, the communica- tions with the Government were that they would grant a certain sum in lieu of the . guarantee, or, in other woi'ds, pay to the Province a certain sum in lieu of that guarantee. It would be observed that those resolutions were passed before any communication was had with the late or present Government to grant to that Province such sum of money in cash in lieu of the guarantee. It would be observed, from those state- ments, that they had no intention to ask a loan. In 18t3, after the passing of those resolutions, ho wrote a letter to the then Minister of Public Works, the hon. member for Charlevoix (Mr. Langevin), in which were these words : — "The intention of the negotiatiors of the Tarms of Union, as you doubtless well know, was to secure the construction of a dock— first class. The guarantee, however, is insufficient, hence I advise you either to construct the dock at Dominion expense, or pay to us a lump sum of money of not less than 1260,000." That letter, written to the ex-Minister of Public Works, in September, l^t3, showed that the question of borrowing money, or taking money as an advance to be charged against the debt of the Province, never was entertained by the Provincial Government. In the autumn of 1873, he came to Ottawa, opened negotiations with the late Government, and, in the absence of the hon. the Minister of Finance, bo car- ried on negotiations with the hon. the member for Charlevoix, then the Minister of Public Works, with respect to this dock. When the hon. the Minister of Finance returned, it was an*anged that the sum of $260,000 should be granted to the Province to aid in the construction of the Graving Dock, and that in lieu of the guarantee to which they were entitled under the Terms of Union. He would read for the information of the House a letter of the hon. the ex-Finance Minister, addressed to himself on that subject : — " Ottawa/.Nov. 3, 1677; ** Dear Sir, — ^With respect to the conversa- tion I had with you respecting the Dominion aid towards tlie Graving Dock, and your application to the Minister of Publio Works 'pon the subject, I have con- sulted my colleagues, and we are prepared to submit to Parliament a formal proposition to the following effect : That in lieu of the interest of £100,000 for ten years, which was secured bv the 12th Section of the Order in Council dated July Ist, 1871, we propose tliat advances should be made to you from time to time, upon certificates of the pro- gress of the work, not on the whole to exceed £50,000 sterling. '*I have, &c., •' S. L. TlLLKT. " To Hon. A. DkCosmos, M.P." It would be seen from that letter that the Finance Minister of that day understood that the $250,000 as to be paid to the Province from time to time, as a gift or grant, and not charged against the debt of the Province. The Ministry of that day retired, and the hon. gentleman who now leads the Gov- ernment formed the present Adminis- tration. As his (Mr. BoCosmos') mis- sion at that time was both to the Dominion and ^.o England with regard to the jck, he con- sidered it his duty, V fore going to England, to obtain the confirmation of the present Government to the agree- ment he had made with the late Gov- ernment. Ho found, at the outset, that H ih6y called in question the naluro of the' jfiiarantee. Ho communicated, lie believed, first, Bemi-officially willi the • hon. the Minister of Marine and Fiah- erios, and next, he thought, with the hon. the Premier, and after the quos tion ae to whether the Province was bound to pay back any sum of money advanced on that guarantee or not, it was decided, as the House might fairly infer from the following statement in his report, that the guarantee men- tioned in the Terms of Union, could not be made a charge against the Pro- vince. In his report, drawn up on his return to British Columbia, anted 2nd February, 1814, the words wei e as foll6w8 : — '* As a matter of record, it may here be p'atedthat the nature of the guarantee in Section 12 of the Terms of Union respecting the Graving Dockf was considered during the negotiations with Mr. Mackenzie, and that the decision was that the £60,000 ster- ling in lieu of the guarantee of interest, in Section 12 of the Terms of Union, should be given to the Province as a grant or bonup, and was not to be charged as a debt against the Province." In Order to go to the Imperial Govern- ment with a confirmation from the now Dominion Government, he communi- cated with the present Premier, and he agreed also to grant the $250,000 in aid of the Esquimalt Graving-dock. The question of the repayment of this money, or of charging it against the debt, was not a part of that agreement in any shape, waj', manner or form ; and he believed he could conclusively' show the House, outside of the letter he now intended to read, that such was the case. He would read the letter ttom the Premier to himself: — - " Ottawa, 14th Nov., 1873. "My Dear Sir, — With reference to the proposal you submitted on behalf of the Government of British Columbia, viz., to advance £60,000 to aid in the coi:struction of a Graving Dock at Esquimault, in lieu of the guarantee of luicrcct at five )3er centum on £100,000 for ten years, provided by tlie Terms' of Union, I have to say that anv change in the mode of aiding in the con- struction of this work, from. that agreed to, will require the sanction of Parliament " I can only say, at present, that the Gov- ernment will submit a measure to ParliuDicni to carrr out your proposal, or some eclieine equivalent thereto. "I am, &c., (Signed), <* A. Maokenz i b . ** Hon. A. OiCosMOB." They had in that letter a statement from the head of the Government that ho would submit a measure to Parlia- ment to carry out his (Mr. DeCosmos') proposal. His proposal did not ask for a loan to assist the construction of the Graving Dock. His proposal to the Government, dated 29th October, 1873, stated ; — "Il(tlie Province)propo8e8 therefore to con- struct the dock i( the Dominion Government will pay to the Province the sum of $250,000 in heu of the guarantee provided under Section twelve of the Terms of Union." Thei'e was nothing whatever in this ])ropo8al which authorized the Govern- | ment to interpret it as an application | for a loan. He might go beyond that, j Hero was another proof that in the I negotiations, so far as he was con- j cerned, there was no reference what- .; over to a loan : — " Ottawa, Not. 11, 1873. " British Columbia RepresentatiTes to the ^ Hon. A. Mackenzie : " Sir, — We fully agree with the proposal of the late Qovernment to ask Parliament to grant to British Columbia £50,000 sterling, in liou of the guarantee under the Terms of Union, for the conBtruction of a first-class Graving Dock at Esquimau, and now have the honour to sa; that, if the same be submitted by the present Government to Parliament for its sanction, it will receive our undivided support. " We have, Ac, (Signed,, (I A. DbOosmob, " E. Dbwonit, " J. S. TaoHPSOR, " R. W. W. Oabbali, " H. Natham, " H. NlLBOH.'' This was an additional authoritj showing the intention of the agent oi; British Columbia to ask for a grant and not for an advance. Sometime later he wrote two letters to the Minist()t' of Finance, asking when the Government would be prepared tc: bring forward a measure in respect t( the Graving-dock, and he also bad m interview with the Premier on tht subject. The latter brought in somi resolutions on the subject, but, whei thet^e resolutions were before th( Houti : of Union. We were convinced that British I. olumbift could not build tlieir Graving Dock wilh that guarantee ; and inasmuch as tlio intention of l)oth parties to the Terms of Union wac to secure that Graving Dock, wo thought it but jupt to replace it by such a sum as would secure it to your Pro- vince, British Columbia and Great Britain contributing nieir siiare, or British Columbia eupplementmg the balance. Of course this sum of £60,000 sterling was not to be an ad- vance of money, but a bonus in place of the guarantee. We knew we would have to ob- tain the sanction of Parliament to such an arraiigement, and we told you we would do so. Fam very positive about these negoti- ations, inasmuca as I was conducting them, cliieflv, previoui to the return of Mr. Tilley from England. I hope llie above will prove satislactory, and remain, my dear Mr. DeCof^moSf " Yours very truly, " Hectoe L. Langkvi.v. " Hod. a. DeCosmos, M. P." If further proof were wanting, he bo- liovod that it could bo had ; but here,on tlio evidence of two witncssc.'^, he thought be had established conclusively that the agreement of tlie late Govern- ment was to pay $250,000 to the Pro- vince of British Columbia to aid in the construction of the Graving-dock. The hon. the Premier having agreed, in the ])reaence of the members of British Columbia, that he would do what Mr. Tilley had agreed to do, aftorwardH violated that agreement by refusing to pay the money over to the Province to enable it to construct the dock. Five years, nearly, had elapsed since those negotiations were entered into, and had the Government kept faith with the Province, the dock, instead of being only started — a mere cofier-djim only being now in the course of con- struction — would have been completed, and Her Majesty's ships of war might have been docked there. It might have been uaed as a implement of defence in case of war between the Imperial Government and Russia or any other country, and as a nucleus for a colony of ship-builders. The money expended would have given employment to a considerable number of men, and there- by increased the revenue derivable from Customs and Excise by this Do- minion ; l)ut, as it was,this great worl one of the Terms of the Union, wji; now practically in abeyance. In going a step further, he wished to direct the attention of the House to a report of the Committee of the hon. the Privy Ooun- cilof 29th Mny,\S16, in which the Min- ister of Finance was credited with using the following language : — " The hon. the Minister of Finance, under these circumstancep.adviseh^hatthe Govern- ment of British Columbia be informed that, in the opinion of this Government, the first section of Chapter 17, 37 Victoria, only con- templates an advance of certain moneys, and that it is not in the power of the Government of the Dominion to make a gift of the sum of $250,0C0, as would appear, from the preced- ing telegram, to be expected by the Govern- ment of British Columbia." From this, thoy found that,in 1876, the Government having in ita possession undoubted evidence of the agreement with the late Grvernment, for he sent the letters he received from the hon. member for Charlevoix, and the pre- sent Governor of New Brunswick, to the Government, and copies were taken of them — interpreted the first section of Chapter 17, Victoria 37, to moan merely an advance and not a bonus to the Province; again, showing that the hon. the Promior — instead of carry- ing out his deliberate agreement made on the floor of the Kouse with the hon. members for BritisV, Columbia, when the Bill was passed — again concurred in violating the .igi-eoment between British Columbia an 1 the Dominion. He had further evidence in his posses- sion as to the views entertained by the Government, with respect to that sum of money. He intended to show what the opinion of the leader of the Government was with respect to the Dock in February, 1874, oefore any difficulty had arisen between the Gov- ernment of British Cohimbia and the Dominion with respect to the con- struction of the railway. Ho would read to the House a telegram received from the hoi>. the Minister of Public Works, to whom ho had sent a tele- gram, asking him to telegraph a copy of the ox Finance Minister Tilley's letter to him (Mr. DeCosmos) respecting the dock, which had been mislaid here at Ottawa, in t ho hon. gentleman's olHce ho believed, before his return to British Columbia. To that telegram he re- ceived the following answer from the Minister of Public Works: — " Ottawa eth, P«b., 1874 " Your telegram w«nt astray. Qovernment offer is to pay ($26,000) two hundred aad fifty ihousand leu of gut That wa as to th tween th nd tlio 1874. and giv( tive of Graving disoharg stituenti Columbi trusted ernment reparatii Colmibi committ agreemt 1^75. H woul'i t papere c Mil. 1 incumbc motion, the Gov British < and he i the ear made th structioi cording award, had beei terms of Columbi had not of fair from thanks resource was be worked, in the bia, at not ca whethei J their pr I that gr fThrougl IBritibh ^that W( Istanccs, Iby theii jeople c lad a n ?ere it Paoifio •.j-jTrri'iWHWii mmmt Privy Ooun- lichtheMin- id with using 'inance, under at the Govern- nformed tlmt, nent, the first jria, only con- n moneys, aad e Government b of the sum of m the preced- )y the Govern- ;,in 1816, tho ts possesBion e agreement , for he sent )rn the hon. md the pro- runswick, to i9 were taken first section il, to mean )t a bonus to lowing that ead of cari-y- sonient made vith the hon. imbia, when n concurred ent between Dominion. a his posses- tertained by pect to that ded to show eader of the jpect to the before any 3en the Gov- ibia and the to the con- Ho would •am received or of Public sent a tele- aph a copy of MUey's letter spocting tho riilaid here at tman's office rn to British [ram he re- ar from the 1, Feb., 1874 , GoTemment ndred aad fifty Ithousand dollars, as dock work proKrenses, in leu of guaranieo provided by Terms of Union. (Signed) " A. Mackbnzib." Tliiit was final and conclusivo ovidonco us Lo tho uiulerstumlinf^ exlHting bo- Iwoon tho Province of British Colmnbiu imd llio iJuminion on tho titb February, 1874. Having explained this matter, and given to the IIouso a brief narra- tive of the negotiations respecting tho Graving Dock, bo coiisidorod ho had discharged his duty, alike to his con- Btituents, to the Province of Britisn Columbia and to the Dominion, lie trusted the hon. the loader of the Gov- ernment would find occasion to mako reparation to tho Province of British Colunabia for the great wrong bo had committed in not carrying out the agreement made with it in November, 1^71. Ho trusted also (he GovpninnMU WDul'i conseuL lu ijiiiig down liio papere called for in this motion. Mb. BUNSTER said he felt it a duty incumbent upon him to second the motion, inasmuch as His Excellency the Governor-General, when be visited British Columbia, promised faithfully, and he supposed His Excellency had the ear of the Government when he made that statement, that railway con- struction should be commenced, ac- cording to the terms of the Carnarvon award. This promise, he might add, had been made in his own presence. The terms of the treaty under which Bi-itish Columbia had entered tho Dominion had not been carried out in that spirit of fair play which would be expected from British statesmen. However, thanks to one of tho great natural resources of tho Pacific Province, which was being rapidly developed and worked, a change had taken place in the prospects of British Colum- bia, and the people there did not care so much as formerly whether British statesmen carried out their promises or not, as tho future of that great country was now assured. Through their faith in the Dominion, "ritibh Columbia had lost a raili-oad, hat would, under similar circum- tanccH, have been built years ago by their American neighbours. The eople of British Columbia would have ad a railway running past their doors ere it not for tho way the Canadian aoific Railway had been villitied by one party and ignored by tho other. It was tho first time in history that any- thing hawn inter- fered them privilego r countries, right to rovemment portion of he Govern- thoir shores m said they m in the line e rails were served lands nigratior to nts, as goad in Canada, or shores to J of British 3l aggrieved, lilt the road, ^ing unused, noro than it' Dhe Govern- id four times ing the road ices obtained ction. Bmi- the lands re- Government, le hon. the ge the con- contract ex- lad been in- es of British d to emigrate tory, Oregon, not being ose reserved )erBon could , it was a de- Tho Govern- his national Canada from satisfied the t out, if they ,hey did not, (vhat he had ■s, tliat somo LINE. r. id for a copy ccompanying JPMD, int as the limit of their respective juris- dictioQB. He was assured that at the American town of Wrangel, situated opposite the mouth of the Stickeen luvQr in Alaska, sales were made to men employed on the British side of the SliicBeen during the year, to the amount^ inrotind numbers, of $100,000 WQLtk of merchandize. When be drew the attention «# the Government, and especially of the hon. the Siinister of Customs, the other day, to t>.) duties paid at Stickeen, it was with the view of aacert»iuing whether some evidence could be obtained to corroborate the i|tatement made to him by steamboat G(ipt*i|iB astothetradeontheSiickeen. By the non-definition of the boundary, •veo topiporarily, by the two Govern- ment9, this tnule was thrown into American hands instead of into British Columbia hands. He was atisured that, if the boundary proposed by Mr. Hunter who was sent there by the Government last year, v. ore adopted, and a Customhouse station n[ao«d th«r«, Canadian steamships would proceed there, and the miners who visited them during the winter season, would make t'auir headquarters on the British side of the line. As the matter was now, they were really contributing lo build u|j llio American side and to the supiM)rt of American Nteamers passing from Portland to Alaska and carrying Oregon produce, insteail of British steamers which might pass l! 1 ujh the mouth of the Stickoen iutc itish Columbian territory. He hope 1 the Government would bring do>/n Mr. Hunter's report and maps, and ai. y additional information, which would sho., the outline of Alaaka in front oi' British territory, the inJiand ir !uccd. Mn. BUN8TBR, in rising to second this motion, said it would have afi^brded him much great*»' pleasure if the mo- tion had been for tLo purchase of Alaska. Hon. gentlemen might laugh, but looking at the matter f^om a na- tional point of view, he fully meant what he said, from his knowledgtt of the country, that the territory of Alaska possessed a more genial clime than Ottawa, notwithstanding its lati- tude, while its natural resouities and capabilities were more valuable than people had any idea of As early as the months of January and February, gap- dening operations were commenced. He questioned very much if they could do that in Ottawa. Vegetation was rapid during the summer season j but hb must acknowledge not so rapid as h^re at .the Capital. When hon. members of this House sneered at Alaska, ha had a right to speak from his own per- sonal knowledge, and tell them they were mistaken ; and the day was not far distant when, from the geographi- cal position of this country, they would SCO the force of his remarks on this subject. They could not but recognize the great fact, that British Columbia was the centre of the British Empire, between Auittralasia, Durope and Ca- nada. Hence, he felt that that Pro- vince occupied a proud position ; and that it was the duty of every British Columbian to keep his fellow country- men here well informed on British Columbia. He remembered when Sir John A. Macdonald brought British Columbia intp the Union, much to her detrimentj because the oontraot 10 (I ^as not carried out, Oiut it was coDBidered a foolish '.laigain ; but to-day the Amoricans felt proud of their Alaska bargain, fcovon millions in cash wore paid lor iha(, but not a dol- lar was paid for Briiish Columbia. Let the House Mb. MACKENZIE: Mr. Speaker, this question raised by the hon. gen- tleman behind me, is one of a great deal of importance. I would suggest to him that he make his motion a little wider. The motion, as it is framed, simply calls for the report of Mr. Hun- ter, a civil engineer sent on an explor- atory survey, to determine, as far as his intelligence and information enabled him to do so, the true boundary line according to the Russian Convention of 1825 ; but we have had a good deal of correspondence on this subject, of an official character, with the United States Gov«mment, and some questions arose in connection with the naviga- tion of the Stickeen River, which is affected to some extent by the Treaty of Washington. I think it is desirable that the hon. <;rentleman should widen bis motion in this sense, adding the following words : " And also such ottier papers as relate to the defining of tbe boundary line between Alasfea and British teiritory, and the nayiga- tion of the rivers passing frbiia British Columbia through Alaska to the s(e|a,'' We will thus be able' to place a colla- tion of papers in consecutiye, ordor, which will show the position ipwljiich this matter stands afthe'present time., i may say that we have made, evety effort to get a settlement' of this que§- sion, and took the necessary means tp do so ; but there seems to be some di^- culty on the part of the Unibod. States; in obtaining an 'apprppriatiQv li'om Congress sufficient to , accoQ^- plish the purpose desired. We the* endeavoured to obtain adelinitionjof the boundary at points of.com mon;ii»tef.e6tj such as the crossing of the Stickeeri River; and this we failed in -jiCQomV plishing in consequence of the djyffi- cult}' experienced, apparently,- : in V\ra^hington, in obtaining moneyffwn Congress to devote to this object,-., As a matter of public interestj X, thiiak.it desirable that, if any mturn ^t.all'i^ made to this motion, the return, shoitld be as complete as . possi ble, sot as, t<3 make the pape;s, when f^x^t^iVk work of reference on the sulyect iofp the future. If the hon. gentleunao will consent to this aQiendmeiit, I.will 1)0 very glad to have the papei-s. miwi«»i as complete as jwssible. . .-;•,> ^.ij Mr. DeCOSMOS said he ^vlis pbt'-' fectly willing to accept the araohdmeni suggested by the hon. the Premior."" Motion, as axhooded, ddreedtd.' '^ "' '' MacLean Roger & Ca., Pjrliamentary and Departmental Piinten^ Ottawa. OoL. •.(.(1.iK->^l5-: .■■. :'i}t>e 'jiv.r vd*' •>*ifl«4i I ' veeh AlasKa ' lo the »^&," ICO a coli^- utiye, brtJar, on ip wljiich esent tiniti.. t made. eve»7 Df this que#- ,ry means tp )e some di^ the Unitod'. pprppriatiQv to , aecom- l. -Wetheti ;, initioiiJoCthie i ■non;iiit(W,t*8t^ Lbe Sticke^^ d in aceomif of th<> djyflJr •areqtlyv ; W money: frwn i pbiect,;;,A«l tj 1; tHJivfe it Lirn ^t:ttlLi8( ;eturu. ^ivwid ble, wjt ae. ti6f I pyipted,, "* e sulfject ir 1. g^ntlebinao^ imoot, I.wMI' papei-H: madtl^ - :■.:::■ ri '^M- h& wiis pbf^ e aniondmenHS- Premior. '"s* ' '. . it..- .) ■U,'>-)'Uli* I III I l' i llii'^' :- ., ■:''..: •••'''ifj -»■,.••.',■,'. ;.» LnSt^. '..iCx! ■"'•'•u'UaSiiili! ?t.l< ui-.^i tfij; ^ la* J jsi'j:.i'» * • I'ja*